As part of Bernie Ecclestone’s own crusade to cut F1’s costs, the Briton has proposed a scheme whereby smaller teams buy complete cars from the better-financed teams.

Ecclestone chaired a meeting with the bosses during the Austrian GP weekend with “positive” results. He discussed with chiefs of the smaller teams their concerns about spiralling costs and put to the group some of his own ideas.

He told the French publication Le Figaro that one of his suggestions was to establish a chassis sell off scheme whereby the midfielders and backmarkers could purchase older cars from the frontrunners.

‘Why shouldn't the five best teams sell their complete chassis to smaller teams?’ 71-year-old Ecclestone asked. ‘These could then run with less costs or effective reductions.’

‘Take Jordan: It had no chance of winning this weekend (in Austria). If Jordan bought a complete package from Renault, one season would only cost 50 per cent of what he spends at the moment. You could even imagine a constructor taking on the responsibility of promoting a second team.’

Currently all teams design, build and develop their own cars - a hugely expensive practice.

Chassis outsourcing is more common on the United States open-wheeler scene where teams purchase chassis’ from other makes. However, in that system teams buy from larger firms that specialise in chassis construction such as Reynard and Lola.

Ecclestone’s plan would see the lesser teams buy cars that the top teams used the previous season. This would be similar to some customer engine deals, where teams purchase engines of a previous year specification.